Experts baffled as Lions coach calls out legendary award voters
Saturday’s grand final was a wild rollercoaster of a battle that swung violently in the final four minutes, with Fremantle blowing a 17-point lead and Brisbane claiming their third straight premiership.
The final stretch of the game felt like a fever dream, and that was compounded when the Norm Smith Medal was announced, won by Freo forward Shai Bolton.
Shai Bolton won the Norm Smith Medal. AFL Photos
Bolton became the first player to win the medal in a loss since West Coast’s Chris Judd in 2005.
Given the result changed so suddenly, it has led people to suggest the voting panel potentially went off early and submitted their votes for the award before the final siren, which they are allowed to do.
The panel was made up of four AFL legends in Andrew McLeod, Shaun Burgoyne, Chris Judd and Michael Voss, as well as journalist Lauren Wood.
Judd and Voss both gave Bolton three votes deeming him the best player on the ground, while Burgoyne gave him two and McLeod and Wood one.
The forward received votes from every judge, despite being the 15th rated player on the ground according to the data.
Bolton had a strong final quarter, but ultimately finished with two behinds from five shots on goal in a grand final loss.
Nine reporter Damian Barrett, who has voted on the Norm Smith Medal on two occasions, provided some insight into the voting process.
"You're told, and I've done it twice, both times it was made clear to me you could vote on the siren or the moments after the siren, and you can change it," Barrett told Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
"People are saying maybe some of these votes were submitted prior to the last four minutes of the game, that may have happened, but every voter yesterday would have had the right to change votes at the siren."
Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko and Will Ashcroft tied for second in the medal with six votes apiece.
Burgoyne and McLeod both deemed Zorko best on ground, but he received no votes from the other three. Wood had Ashcroft best on, while Judd and Voss also gave him votes.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan believes Ashcroft was incredibly unlucky not to win the award, given his incredible final four minutes that helped flip the game.
Ashcroft was involved in everything, winning four clearances and helped to set up three of the four goals the Lions kicked, to go with a complete performance across the entire game.
Had he won it, he would have joined Richmond champion Dustin Martin as the only three-time Norm Smith Medallist in history.
Fagan certainly believes it should have been the young midfielder and also wonders whether the votes were submitted early.
"He was pretty unlucky not to be the Norm Smith Medallist I reckon (Ashcroft) and I've got a funny feeling that decision might have been made before the final siren," Fagan said earlier in the show.
Rebekah Ashcroft celebrates with her sons Will Ashcroft and Levi Ashcroft of the Lions. Ashcroft was heroic against the Dockers. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"I thought he was extraordinary. The way he approached that last five minutes was beyond his experience. It's the best five minutes in a grand final I reckon you will ever see. Well done to him."
It certainly calls into question the award, which was voted on by two former winners in Judd and McLeod and two players whose reputations were built on big finals performances in Burgoyne and Voss. The quartet has 10 premierships between them.
Former Adelaide captain Rory Sloane said it in simple terms: Ashcroft won the game for the Lions in those final four minutes, where he had six disposals, four clearances and two score assists.
"Will Ashcroft won the game for Brisbane in the end and it was through his stoppage work," Sloane said.
“When Brisbane’s backs were against the wall, he needed to drive out the front and attack, and that’s what he did. Zorko was probably the most consistent, Dunkley defensively was incredible, Ashcroft won them the game, though.”
Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd also would have given the 22-year-old the medal had he been voting.
Chris Fagan speaks to Nine the day after the win. Nine
"Bolton wouldn't have been my Norm Smith. He played a good game, but Will Ashcroft was the best man on the ground in my opinion," Lloyd said.
Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson was the highest rated player on the ground and dominated in the ruck. Teammate Hayden Young was second thanks to a dominant third quarter where he kicked two big goals.
Ashcroft came in third, followed by captains Harris Andrews and Josh Dunkley, both of whom had enormous influences on the result. Barrett reported that Brisbane has enquired with voters how Dunkley failed to poll a single vote in the medal.
